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On a cold and drizzly morning, children who attend elementary school PS 104 Bayswater in Far Rockaway, Queens wait for the #NoExcusesBus to take them to school on December 12, 2016. (Photo by Becky Holladay) Read the full story

Meaghan Holley, Director of Rockaway Rising, plays with a student while they wait for her older sister to finish getting ready. Holley started the #NoExcusesBus in March 2016 when she learned that nearly 70 school-age who lived in one apartment complex were defined as chronically absent, which means missing two or more days of school a month. (Photo by Becky Holladay)

Two students who ride the #NoExcusesBus wait for Holley to finish a conversation with their mother. Rockaway Rising’s approach to chronic absenteeism is to combat poverty as well, and attend to the needs of the childrens’ families in whatever capacity they need. (Photo by Becky Holladay)

A student waits for the #NoExcusesBus to leave for PS 104 Bayswater. The bus sometimes makes three trips in the morning. On this particular day, they drove nearly 75 children to school. (Photo by Becky Holladay)

Holley talks to a student about her behavior on the #NoExcusesBus, December 5, 2016. (Photo by Becky Holladay)

Students play a game with Holley while waiting for more students to get on the bus. (Photo by Becky Holladay)

Holley greets a student who’s come out to get a ride to school. In this particular district, students above the 2nd grade who live less than a mile from school are ineligible for the city school bus, which has an affect on attendance and chronic absenteeism. (Photo by Becky Holladay)

A student adjusts his hood in the drizzling rain outside school. Before the #NoExcusesBus, children who were ineligible for the city’s public school bus and had to walk to school would sometimes miss school if it was raining or snowing. (Photo by Becky Holladay)

Holley hugs a student while waiting for the #NoExcusesBus that runs from an apartment complex on Dix Avenue in Far Rockaway, Queens, to elementary school PS104. (Photo by Becky Holladay)

A student waits to disembark the #NoExcusesBus on December 5, 2016. (Photo by Becky Holladay)

A student takes a ride on the #NoExcusesBus on December 5, 2016. This particular morning, the bus made three trips between the apartment complex on Dix Avenue and the elementary school PS104. (Photo by Becky Holladay)

Holley gives a hand to a reluctant student on the #NoExcusesBus on December 5, 2016. (Photo by Becky Holladay)

A Rockaway Rising employee tries to cheer up a student by hand delivering him to the front door of the school on December 5, 2016. (Photo by Becky Holladay)

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Mar2017

Community-based Organization Battles Chronic Absenteeism in Queens

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Text and Photos by Becky Holladay

“Good morning, Love Bugs, it’s a beautiful day!” Meaghan Holley sang through the door of an apartment. “Psych. It’s actually really gross out. But we still have to get up and go to school!”

Holley, a 30-year-old community worker who runs Rockaway Rising, which works with youth and families in Far Rockaway, Queens, personally escorts to school kids who would otherwise be absenteeism statistics.